Posting tray



Sept. 16 1924.

- D. EFHUNTER POSTING TRAY Filed July 26,. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheetl POSTING TRAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

DAVID E. HUNTER, OF .MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SHAW-WALKER COM- PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

POSTING TRAY.

Application filed 3111126, 1922. Serial No. 577,564.

ing Trays, of which the following is a speci-' fication.

This invention relates to improvements in posting trays, a term' applied to devices used in connection with bookkeeping machines as a holder or rack for the entry sheets, and taking the place of the ordinaryledger or other books of account.

With" the advent of the bookkeeping machine, the posting tray was adopted as a desirable and necessary expedient for facilitating the handling of the entry sheets, and to otherwise reduce the time and labor involved in the more .mechanical bookkeeping systems. In a few words, a posting tray is a portable device to be used in conjunction with a bookkeeping machine and forming a permanent and readily accessible holder for the ledger or record sheets.

The object of the invention is to incorporate in a device of the character described, certain improved .features of construction calculated to increase the practicability, ease of operation and general utility of the posting tray as part of a mechanical bookkeeping system. Thevarious improvements will be pointed out as the device is described and I in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is aviewin front elevation of the posting tray,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation. of the posting tray,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View in vertical section taken on line 44 of Figure 2, showing the tray slightly elevated from the pedestal,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of the fitont portion of the tray, with parts shown in section as'taken on line 55 of Figure, 1, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail elevation of the tray partly in section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In general, the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a pedestal type of stand 1, supporting the posting tray 2, the

latter resting upon the stand so that it may be lifted off and deposited in the vault, for safe keeping when not in use. The stand 1, and in fact the complete structure is referably made of sheetmetal, 'althoug it could also be reproduced in wood. The stand 1 comprises a single tubular square pedestal or column having four radiating feet 3, mounted on casters 4;the column is preferably made up of telescopic sections 1 and 1 with suitable adjusting members such as screws 5, 5 in order that the height of the stand may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the operator. At the upper end of the pedestal is mounted a rectangular frame or base 6, for the posting tray proper 2. The base 6 is constructed of channel side and end 'bars 7 and 8 respectively, joined together to form an open rectangular frame, the end portions 7, 7 of the side bars being bent over the end bars, and secured by means of screws 9. Other channel bars 10, 10 extend lengthwise of the frame, and spaced inwardly from the side bars, 7, 7 being connected at their ends to the end bars 8, 8, by said screws 9 and are screwed to the pedestal 1 by bolts 11, 11, (Figure 4). Along the side edges of the base, are upstanding flanges 12, 12, preferably formed by bending the inner edges of the in position, and against sliding upon the base 6.

The tray 2, is a frame of somewhat the same construction as the base, just described, consisting of channel-shaped end bars, 13, 13, and bottom plates 14, extending the full length of the frame and screwed at their ends tosaid end bars thereby forming a 9 rigid structure.

Along, the sides of the frame are side plates, 15, 15, having their lower marginal portion bent inwardly to form flanges 15, 15, adapted to have abutting engagement with the vertical flanges 12, 12 of the base 6. At the ends of the side plates are fixed channel shaped end sections 16, 16, extending at right angles thereto, and having telescopic engagement with the end bars 13. These side plates are adapted for adjust ment relative to the end bars 13, 13, through the medium of sliding engagement between i said bars and the telescopicend sections 16, 16, these parts bein secured in two or. more positions ofad -ustment by bolts 17,

ure 4t).

Extending along the sides of the tray above theside plates 15, 15, are side bars,

19, secured at theirends to the side plates. These bars serve as handles .for lifting the tray. It is to be observed that the side plates project but ashort distance above the level of the upper portions of, bottom plates 14, and thus the sides of the tray are comparatively open, thereby permitting the light to enter freely, so that the sheets may be read distinctly without removing them from their places.

The bottom wall plates 14, form the supporting track for the sheets, guides and follower plates, hereinafter to be described, it being noted that said follower plates are offset slightly to the left of the center of the tray, for reasons better understood in a general discussion to follow. Extending lengthwise of the bottom plates are central channels consisting of side walls 20, 20, bottom walls 21, '21, and vertical flanges 22, 22, extending on either side of a slot ex tending the length of said channel. Along either side of the channels are formed rails 23, 23, preferably covered with strips of cork 23 or like material which will .permit the sheets tostand on edge without slipping.

The coveredv rails 23 form the bearing surface for the file of entry sheets 24, and guide cards 25 which'are arranged alphabetically in the manner common to filing systems, and held in upright position between two follower plates 26 and 27 at front and rear of the sheets respectively. The guide cards 25, are secured to the tray by means of a slide rod 28, extending lengthwise within the channel inthe bottom wall 14;, and which passes through eyelets formed in tabs 25 of the guide cards in the usual manner.-

The follower plates are movable lengthwise of the tray, to allow for expansion or just inside of' the rails 23 are series of slots 29in bottom plates 14 arranged in corresponding pairs on opposite sides of the trough. These slots are formed in the ver-.

' tical side walls 20, of the channels and are extended into the bottom walls of the same consists of a transverse portion 29* of. uniform width, cut in the rail 23 and extending inwardly from the ed e ofthe channel to the cork strips 23 a diverging portion 29", the vertical'wall 20, and an inner portion 29 formed in thebottom wall 21.

The horizontal slot portions 29 and 29 form continuationsof the vertical slot 29",

and while the rear edge of all lie in the same vertical plane, the front margin of the latter inclines forwardly from top to bottom at an angle of substantially thirty degrees (30)" to the vertical as clearlyshown in Figure 6.. I

The 'follower plate 27, is provided along its lower edge with a heavier base plate 30, slightly narrower than the plateitself, and shaped along its lower edge to form triangular shaped tongues30", at the lower ends thereof which project beyond the lower edge of the plate. Just above the tongues and fixed to the back side of the base plate 30, is a cross bar 31, which serves to support the tongues in the slots and to engage the rails 23, as a rest for the plate.

As heretofore suggested the late 27, is adopted to be supported in eit er an upright or tilted position: In order to obtain the upright position, the plate is inserted vertically 'into'the slots 29 in the rails, the

- tongues being guidedinto theslots 29 in the bottom plates in vertical I alignment there-Q with, with'the ends of the bar 31 resting at its ends upon the rails- 23, thus the engagement between the base position as closely shown in dotted lines in Figure .6. To shift the plate into tilted position (see full lines Figure 6), the same would be lifted until the tongues disengage the lowermost slots 29, thereby permitting the plate to tilt back until the lateral margins of the tonguesengage the inclined front edges of the "ertical slots 29", with the bottom edges of the tongues resting on the bottomwall 21, forwardly of the slots 29". Thus the rear follower plate canbe moved to any position alongthe track and inserted in either position .or shifted from one to the late 31 and verti-' cally spaoed'slots-hold t e plate in uprlght lli other, as the operator desires, a handle 32 being applied to the back of the plate for this purpose.-

The forward follower plate 26 is mounted in an entirely different manner, yet designed to be tilted and shifted alon movement is. comparatively short, being conthe track as is the rear follower plate, altho gh its path of fined to the forward end portion of the is pivot-ally mounted along front end frame member, and'the rear ends in angle bars 36, 36, mounted upon the side walls 21 of the channel.

The angular" plate consists of an upper vertical portion 32 spaced forwardly ofthe follower plate 26, a lower vertical portion extending below the track, and carrylng the sleeves 33, and an intermediate horizontal ortion 32, whereby the upper portion 32 1s offset forwardly of the plate 26, which is mountedat the rear edge of the portion 32 by means of a hinge 3 I In order to lock the carriage against free movement in a forward direction, a locking device is provided, consisting of a lever arm 38, passing through a slot in the horizontal portion 32 of the plate 32, and provided at its lower end with an opening through which one of the slide rods 34 extend, (Figure 6). A flat spring 39 secured to the plate 26, bears against the lever, forcing it forward, so that it normally grips the rod preventing the forward movement of the carriage, except when the upper end is pressed against thespring by the thumb, thus releasing thelever.

Hinged to the front face of the plate 27 is a brace 40, consisting of a small plate bent to'provide marginal flanges and notches 40 formed at the ends of the flanges. The plate is pivoted horizontally to a hinge plate 41,

fixed to the follower plate 26 just above the level of the upper .edge of the upper portion 32* of the plate 32 of the carriage. The brace plate 40, normally rides on the top edge of the relatively fixed plate 32, so that by pressing forwardly on the follower plate 26, until it assumes a vertical position, the

notches 40* drop into engagement with the understood that the contents, consisting of large number of entry sheets and guides'similar' to anyfilmg system, should have sufli? cient excess space from front to rear so that in going through the file the sheets may be. turned forward, one after the other, with a V-shaped crevice between, in order'that the operator may remove any sheet without l0s-' 'ing the place where the sheet is to boreplaced. This then, is accomplished byseparating the follower plates a greaterdistance than the thickness of .the compressed sheets,

and also tilting-them away from the vertical.

Thus the rear plate would incline rearwardly Pressing obtained by sliding the front plate in or out,

the distance of travel of its carriage. To expand the file for use, the lever, 38, is pressed thus releasing the carriage so that it may be drawn forward. Merely pushing the carriage rearwardly against the contents of the file effects a partial compression, but only partially, because the plates would ordinarily be tilted, hence the first operation in closing the file is to straighten the rear plate by shifting it into vertical position, thus allowing the lugs 30 to drop into the horizontal slots 29, in the bottom wall 21, of the channel. The front plate is straightened as the final operation in closing the file, this being accomplished in manner already described. I

The straightening of the follower plates applies a uniform binding pressure to the contents, thereby preventing their displacementor disarrang ment in moving the tray from place to place, or in handling the same when not in use.

The device herein disclosed combines numerous advantageous features, such as security in the binding of the contents, ease.

and convenience of handling the individual sheets, and otherwise promoting a system-' atic method of bookkeeping. Other advantages maybe mentioned, among which are,

the adjustable width of the tray which permits the use of various sizes of sheets, without the expense of replacing the device with one of larger size; the open side walls which permit the lower portions of the sheets to be" easily read-without removing the same from the tray, and finally the open or skeleton structure employed throughout which tends toward lightness in weight and more sanitary and cleanly conditions,'there being little or no opportunity for the collection of dust, and such articlesas pins,-paper fasteners, etc. I o Having described the preferred embodiment, I nowclaim my invention subject to the right to employ suchde'parturesand modification as may be, adopted, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tray having acentral longitudinal channel and! a follower plate provided with tongues at its lower edge,

adapted to engage within slots arranged along said channel and consisting of'connected portions formed invthe vertical and horizont \l walls along the sides of said channel, said horizontal portions acting to retain the platein uprightposition, and said vertical portions being of tapered form to .per

init said plate to be tilted when said tongues are released from one of said horizontal portions. p

2. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination of-a tray having contentssuppo'rting rails andan intermediate longi-' tu'dinal channel'provided with pairs of slots spaced apart along opposite-sides of said channel, each-pairof slots consisting of tapered vertical portions and straight upper and lower horizontal portions, and a follower plate adapted to be retained in said pairs of slots and adjustable to engage the vertical portions and the upper horizontal portions to assume a tilted position,'and to engage both of the horizontal portions to 2 assume an upright position. a

' 3. In a device of the character described the combination of a tray, havin contentssupporting rails and an interme iate channel and a follower plate adapted to be supported to a predetermined point by means of slots, formed in the walls of said channel, and arranged inpairs, each pair consisting of tapered slots in the side walls and straight transverse slots in said rails and the bottom wall of said channel, said plate being held in vertical position when engaging said strai ht slots and in tilted position when releasef from the lower straight slot. 4:. In a device of the character described the combination of a tray, a sliding carriage mounted on said tray, a follower "plate pivotally mounted on said carriage'and a hinged brace mounted on said plate and adapted to engage said carriage to hold said plate in vertical position.

-5; In a device of the character described the combination of a tray having a contentssupporting track, a carriage hav nga limited slidable movement along said track, a follower plate pivotally mounted on said car riage, the same having an upright plate for Supporting said follower plate in tilted position, and means for releasably bracing 7 In a device of the character described the combination of a pedestal, a tray removably supported upon said pedestal, and comprising a contents-supporting track havtrack, front and rear follower plates adapted to be tilted in opposite. directions for opening the contents of the tray, one of said plates being slidable to compress said contents, and'provided with releasable locking 'means acting; automatically to lock said sliding follower plate in the position of maximum sliding movement to compress said contents and a hinged brace mounted .ing rails of pliable material along said i on said'plate and a member slidable with said plate and coacting with said brace to hold the same in vertical position in the act of compressing the contents by exerting pressure thereon.

8. In a device of thecharacter described the combination of a tra having a contentssupporting track extending lengthwise-thereof,and consisting of railsand'an intermediate channel, front and rear follower plates, rods secured at the forward end portion of said channel, a sliding carriage mounted upon said rods, and hingedly supporting the front follower plate, and a normally re easable spring-pressed locking member mounted on said carriage and engaging one of said rods, whereby said carria e is held from movement in a forward direction.

9; In a device of the character described the combination of a tray, having a contentssup 'o'rting track extending lengthwise thereof, and consisting of rails and an intermedi-* ate channel, front and rear follower plates,

rods secured at the forward end portion of said channel, a sliding carriage mounted upon said rods, and comprising a plate bent to provide an upstanding portion and a lower .portion' extending into said channel, said-front plate being hinged to said carriage in spaced relation to said upstandingporti'on, and adapted to-be supported therey in tilted'position, a brace connected to said plate and adapted to engage said upstanding portion to support said plate in. upright position, and a Vlocking'm ember carried b said carriage and engaging said rod to" locr said carriage from forward movement. 1() .-.:.In' a device of the character described the combination of a tray, having a contentssupporting track provided with slots therealong, a rear follower plate adapted to be supported in tilted or upright position in said slots, a carriage slidablyl, niountedadjacent the forward end of said'track, a front follower plate hinged to said carriage, a member on the carriage for supporting said plate in tilted-position and a coacting brace for supporting said plate in upright position,; and means for locking said carriage in a predetermined position against forward slidin movement.

11. n a device of the character described the combination of a tray, consisting of side and end frame members, a contents-supporting track extending between said end frame members and fixed thereto, said side frame members beingprovided With end portions overlapping said end frame members, fastening means for adjusting the side frame members transversely to vary the width of said tray, and rails extending along said side frame members and spaced above the level of said supporting track.

12. In a device of the character described the combination of a tray consisting of side and end frame members, and acontents-supporting track having rails surfaced with pliable material, said track being fixed to said end members, and said side members having adjustable connection with said end members, for increasing or decreasing the width of the space on either side of said track, and rails extending above said side frame members, and forming handles for said tray,

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of J une, A. D. 1922.

DAVID E. HUNTER. v 

